SN56.44 — Kūṭāgārasutta

Disciples, if someone were to say, I will realize the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, without understanding it... and I will realize the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering as it truly is, without understanding it, and I will bring about the cessation of suffering: this would not be a valid position.

Just as if someone were to say, I will raise the upper house without having built the lower house: this would not be a valid position. In the same way, if someone were to say, I will realize the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, without understanding it... and I will realize the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering as it truly is, without understanding it, and I will bring about the cessation of suffering: this would not be a valid position.

However, if someone were to say, I will realize the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, with understanding... and I will realize the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering as it truly is, with understanding, and I will bring about the cessation of suffering: this would be a valid position.

Just as if someone were to say, I will build the lower house and then raise the upper house: this would be a valid position. In the same way, if someone were to say, I will realize the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, with understanding... and I will realize the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering as it truly is, with understanding, and I will bring about the cessation of suffering: this would be a valid position.

Therefore one should cultivate the understanding of this is suffering... and cultivate the understanding of this is the path leading to the cessation of suffering.

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